The EkoBuild Ribbon system has 300% more heating elements than standard systems, so it goes in any room, as a primary heat, on top of any subfloor and directly under any flooring product. From £45/m², backed by a 15-year warranty.
Not all electric underfloor heating is the same. Here is exactly how the technologies compare.
| Feature | EkoBuild Ribbon | Traditional Cable | Water-Based Pipes |
|---|---|---|---|
Primary heat source | ✓ Certified primary heat | ✗ Supplementary only | Only with a boiler |
Element spacing | ✓ 10–50 mm apart (300% more coverage) | 100–150 mm apart | 100–200 mm apart |
Profile thickness | ✓ 1.8 mm | 3–6 mm | ✗ 10–20 mm |
Subfloor screed required | ✓ 0 mm, no screed | ✗ 40–70 mm slab | ✗ 40–70 mm slab |
Operating temperature | ✓ Safe, uniform 28°C | ✗ 40–60°C (up to 90°C in slab) | ✗ 40–60°C |
Heat-up time | ✓ 3 min core (5 min carpet, 10 min laminate) | ✗ 2–3 hours | ✗ 2–3 hours |
Works under any floor | ✓ Yes, incl. carpet & wood | ✗ Limited | ✗ No |
Running fuel | ✓ Single fuel, on/off duty cycle | 100% continuous draw | ✗ Dual fuel, runs constantly |
Installation | ✓ DIY-friendly (electrician for hookup) | ✗ Heavy trade + screed | ✗ Plumber + screed |
Retrofit suitable | ✓ Excellent | Rarely | ✗ Mostly rarely |
Warranty | ✓ 15 years | 10 years | 5–10 years |
Quick rules for fitters and DIYers. Get these right and the system lasts decades.
The full one-pager (printable A4, do's & don'ts, 15-year warranty stamp):
Download the full guide (PDF)The only electric underfloor heating that's a true primary heat source, on top of any subfloor, directly under any floor finish, in almost any space. Cable and water systems can't.
The only system that runs directly under all of them, because it works at a safe 28°C, not the 40–90°C cable and water need.
As automatic snow-melt and ice prevention for safe access underfoot.
Low-energy and zoned, so it pairs perfectly with solar and battery, heat your home on power you've already generated.
No boiler, no screed, no central-heating rebuild. Do one room or the whole house.
Ask about your space →They're picturing old wire-cable systems. The Ribbon Heating System is a different technology entirely, here's the honest difference.
True of traditional cable, its elements sit 100–150 mm apart, so it can only top a room up. The Ribbon packs elements just 10–50 mm apart: 300% more coverage. That's what heats a room on its own, certified as primary heat, at a safe, even 28°C.
Cable systems bury in a 40–70 mm concrete slab and run blistering hot for hours. The Ribbon sits directly under your floor with no screed, reaches temperature in 3 minutes, then cycles on and off. It heats the room, not a slab of concrete.
That's water underfloor, pumping heat into concrete for 2–3 hours. The Ribbon core is warm in 3 minutes, through carpet in 5, laminate in 10. On, warm, satisfied, off.
Don't lose heat, don't need heat. Insulate the space well and the Ribbon runs at peak efficiency, drawing power for only about a quarter of each active hour.
Founded in 2001 by Russell White, the man who built his own zero-energy home to prove it works.
Russell White founded EkoBuild with one mission: bring genuine zero-running-cost heating to any building. After years installing and testing mainstream systems, and finding heat pumps and biomass boilers riddled with inefficiencies, he became convinced advanced electric was the real future of clean heating. He's been the sole UK importer of the AHT amorphous-metal Ribbon system since 2001.
And he didn't stop at selling it. Russell built his own 360 m² eco house heated entirely by the Ribbon system, five bathrooms, wet rooms, stone floors, laminate and plush carpet, all warmed seamlessly. The result: zero net annual running costs, plus around £1,000 a year of surplus energy income.
Over 100 homes across the UK now run on EkoBuild, with 300% more heating coverage than standard systems. Every product is proven in Russell's own home first. No hard sell, just honest advice from someone who genuinely lives with what he recommends.
See how EkoBuild compares to your current heating bills. Most customers see payback within 4–7 years.
Pop your details in above and hit Calculate to see your savings and payback.
Estimates based on Russell's own method (150W/m² over 70% floor coverage, ~6 hrs/day, 28p/kWh) and an average-home duty cycle. Actual results depend on usage, insulation, and energy prices, so every job is tested on site.
Design My System →Standard cable systems pull power continuously for hours to heat a deep concrete slab. The Ribbon sits directly below your floor covering, so there's no slab to warm. It reaches temperature in about 3 minutes, then the thermostat cycles it off. The Ribbon draws 150 watts per m² across the 70% of the floor it covers, but it only actively pulls power for about 25% of each hour it's on in an average home, and nearer 7–10% in a well-insulated (EPC A–B) one. So a typical 12m² room works out around 50p a day to run in an average home, and close to nothing once a home is well insulated. Russell walks through this exact maths on EkoBuild's TikTok, and every job is tested on site.
Don't lose heat, don't need heat. Insulating the space properly stops structural drafts and keeps your running costs at their lowest.
Browse the 0.5m and 1m Ribbon, complete kits, thermostats and insulation, or design your exact room first.
Everything you need to make the right decision.
Got questions before you buy? Our AI assistant is trained on 25 years of Russell's underfloor heating expertise. Ask about sizing, products, installation, running costs, and get accurate answers in under a minute. Want a human? Leave a message and Russ will come back to you.
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Real feedback from UK homeowners who made the switch to EkoBuild.
Want references? Get in touch, Russell is happy to connect you with existing customers who can share their experience.
Watch how our ribbon technology works and see real installations.
See the AHT ribbon technology that gives 300% more element coverage than any cable system on the market.
Step-by-step guide to installing EkoBuild under carpet. DIY-friendly, just needs an electrician for final connection.
Tell us about your project and Russell will come back to you with expert advice and a no-obligation quote, usually within 24 hours.